Of interest to us is general and specific genealogical information about our French-Canadian (QUÉBEC in particular) and Franco-American ancestors. I hope to post pertinent info here on a regular basis as my research progresses. Details concerning genetic anomalies and hereditary diseases found among French-Canadians and their descendants would be welcome. Your input, corrections and comments are most welcome.

Friday, May 19, 2006

I've been asked this question by several readers so it's worth explaining the relationship between the two.

Through the years, our French-Canadian & Franco-American ancestors and present-day relatives have, for the most part, been Catholics. As such, families often consisted of a dozen or so children, especially in Québec, and the parents expected one or more of them to enter the RC priesthood or a religious community. As time went on, the practice and influence of religion changed due to the Quiet Revolution in Québec. With this change, Secular Institutes became more popular than religious communities; therefore, hundreds of Québecers joined these Institutes, which, for the most part, required yearly vows of their members rather than Final Vows as were pronounced in religious communities. Secular Institutes allowed its members to live "within the world" without being "part of it." At that time, OPUS DEI was a Secular Institute that attracted members from the French-Canadian and Franco-American Catholic population. Although the status of OPUS DEI within the church has changed from a Secular Institute to a Personal Prelature, it still is part of our Québec heritage. For this reason and because of its presend-day popularity, I found it was important to have a member explain how she lives as a member of OPUS DEI. It's the social aspect of this organization that is of interest to us since our ancestors and living relatives may have had contact with it or even be members.

2 comments:

Libby, I would think of Opus Dei as a diocese with no territory. it has a bishop (the prelate) and priests and members of the lay faithful, as any diocese would. Membership is not based on territory but on the person, hence a PERSONAL prelature. Why have a personal prelature then? Personal prelatures were mentioned first at the Second Vatican Council and then in the 1983 Code of Canon Law to serve various needs of the Church. Opus Dei strives to teach people to live holiness in the ordinary circumstances of their lives. It is not a religious order and should not be confused with one. I hope this helps.

About Me

I was born in early morn...
An American living in Canada since 1971, I have finally come to grips with my French-Canadian heritage, which isn't as easy as it may sound. Although many Quebecers immigrated to the U.S., wherever they went, they were the minority, despite filling the factories along the Merrimack River on the east coast. So, I'm not "an American in Paris," but an "AMERICAN in QUÉBEC"!